Dublin: the city of literature – and the capital of Ireland. Famous authors such as William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, James Joyce, J.M. Synge, Maeve Binchy, and Roddy Doyle are all from Dublin. In such a literary town as this, words matter.

Download a larger image and share the photo with your class, then try these discussion questions and classroom activities:

Dublin is located at the entrance of the River Liffey and the Irish Sea. The River Liffey splits Dublin into two disparate parts – the northside (working class) and southside (middle to upper-middle class). Think about the history of the river, and how it influenced the city’s development, from the Vikings to the Celts. Discuss with your class how urban geography can consist of more than land, and peruse these old photos of Dublin Bridges – how has the river (and town) changed since then?

How many bridges in Dublin cross the River Liffey? Research your answer, and then check here.

The most famous bridge in Dublin is the Ha’Penny Bridge. So named because it cost a ha’penny to cross, the Ha’Penny Bridge is constructed of cast iron. Names matter – discuss the names of some of the bridges you found for the previous question, and think of why they might be named that way.Get inspired.